Govt claims releasing all 290 Baloch protestors

ISLAMABAD — In a development on Monday, the caretaker federal government claimed that it has released the remaining 290 Baloch protestors who were detained during a crackdown on a demonstration in Islamabad. The decision comes in the wake of deliberations by a committee formed by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, read a statement.

The protestors, advocating an end to enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings, were taken into custody during the crackdown. An interior ministry spokesperson stated that the decision to release the protestors was in line with the directions of the court.

While emphasizing the right to peaceful protest, the spokesperson highlighted that no one is allowed to take the law into their hands. The security of the Capital’s Red Zone, housing constitutional institutions and the Diplomatic Enclave, is paramount and will be ensured at all costs, added the spokesperson.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the primary organizer of the long march, had set demands, including the dismissal of cases against students and activists and the release of all protestors. The march, initiated in Turbat on December 6, concluded in Islamabad after drawing widespread condemnation for the use of force by Islamabad police.

According to a statement, the caretaker government’s resolution to release the remaining protestors aligns with the principles of justice and the right to peaceful dissent. The development marks a significant step in addressing the concerns raised during the Baloch protestors’ demonstration in the federal capital.